About the Epstein/Pizza connection

AI returned this when I said "Tell about the Epstein/pizza orders connection."

Recent document releases from the Department of Justice (DOJ) in early 2026 have reignited online speculation regarding "pizza" as a coded term in Jeffrey Epstein’s communications. 

The connection revolves around the following key points:

• Frequency of Mention: The word "pizza" reportedly appeared 911 times in the newly released documents as of February 2, 2026. While many of these references occur in seemingly mundane contexts—such as social plans and meals—the sheer volume has led some to link it to the debunked "Pizzagate" theory.
• Specific Exchanges:
  • Erin Ko: iMessage exchanges from 2016 between Epstein and an individual named Erin Ko mention pizza and other food items. Online theories falsely claimed this referred to a 13-year-old girl who died in a 2025 accident, but records show the Erin Ko in the messages would have been only four or five years old at the time of the 2016 exchange.
  • Roy and Stephanie Hodges: A 2013 email mentions "pizza" being provided to a crew during an outing.
• Alleged Code Words: Viral social media posts have revived claims that terms like "pizza" (girl), "cheese" (little girl), or "hotdog" (boy) were used by elites as code for human trafficking. These claims originated from a 2016 interpretation of hacked John Podesta emails but were never substantiated by law enforcement or credible investigations.
• Official Stance: Investigators and officials caution that "pizza" appears in everyday contexts, and there is no evidence linking these mentions to criminal activity or the 2016 conspiracy theory. The original Pizzagate theory was thoroughly debunked by the D.C. Police Department and other authorities. 

The resurgence is largely driven by social media platforms like TikTok and X, where users have shared screenshots of the files to suggest the theory was "right all along" despite the lack of new evidence. 

While there is no verified connection between Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network and the figures central to the original Pizzagate conspiracy theory, a recent massive document dump in early 2026 has reignited online speculation. 

Recent findings and developments include:

• Shared Figures: John Podesta, the former Hillary Clinton campaign chairman at the center of the 2016 Pizzagate narrative, appears in the newly released Epstein files. However, experts and investigators state his presence in the documents reflects his broad political network and does not implicate him in criminal activity.
• "Pizza" as Coded Language: The word "pizza" appears over 900 times in the recent Department of Justice (DOJ) document release. While conspiracy theorists claim this confirms the 2016 "code word" theory, investigators maintain most references occur in mundane social contexts, such as organizing meals for staff or guests.
• Associates of Interest:
  • Christopher Poole: Documents mention a potential meeting in 2012 between Epstein and the founder of 4chan (where Pizzagate originated), though no ongoing relationship was confirmed.
  • Ghislaine Maxwell: The files include tips to the FBI speculating that Maxwell was a high-level moderator on Reddit, another platform where the theory gained early traction.
• New "Pizza" Exchanges: Specific messages from the files have gone viral, such as a 2015 email with the subject "Pizza Amore" and a 2018 message asking for "pizza and grape soda". Users on platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) have used these to claim the theory was "right all along," despite a lack of evidentiary proof linking these specific orders to trafficking.
• Official Debunking: Law enforcement, including the D.C. Police, and major investigative outlets maintain that the original Pizzagate claims regarding Comet Ping Pong were entirely false. They caution that conflating Epstein’s proven crimes with debunked conspiracy narratives can hinder actual anti-trafficking efforts.